Opener Moved Up

[Slabasaurus]

I'm with Mr Schara....

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/146482765.html

I also agree with Mr. Schara. I liked the last line here about Dill not needing an extra week to catch walleye

[Springerguy1]

Here is the email I sent to all members that serve on the game fish committees:

Dear Senators and Representatives,

I wanted to express my appreciation for the proposal to open fishing season one week earlier than originally proposed. According to the DNR statements I have read, opening season one week prior will have no impact on the fish population since the unseasonably warm spring and early ice out has led to early spawning.

It has been disappointing to read the articles from some of our more popular outdoor writers and self proclaimed outdoors spokesmen regarding the early opener. Ron Schara is upset that the early opener will interfere with his crappie tournament and Dennis Anderson has somehow become the spokesman for the resort industry and written about how this will cause issues with the resort industry. It is clear to me why Dennis is a writer and not a business owner. I cannot fathom how an early opener could possibly harm a resort - yes, it would be an inconvenience since last minute planning would be required but it does give those that are savvy business leaders an opportunity to capitalize on additional revenue. Personally, I don't understand why the resort industry seems to have a stronger voice in our resource management than the thousands of citizens.

My fishing, like most Minnesotans, is limited to the weekends when I'm not working so two additional days of walleye fishing during a somewhat limited season is a welcome change. Some have argued that many have already made plans for a May 12th opener and this should prevent changing the date. Why? Why would opener a week early be an issue to anyone that has made plans? I don't think the lakes are going to be fished out due to an opener a week early and this really sounds like some "me first" whining. All in all, based on the weather this year, an early opener would be good for the average fisherman like myself and any business that supports the industry -- regardless of what self proclaimed experts believe.

[live4chrome]

This is a terrible article imho. I dont get why you need to cancel plans if you already made them. The fish will still be there and it just gives you an added week to get the boat out and make sure everything is running properly before the anual boat landing opener fiasco

[LMITOUT]

Here is the email I sent to all members that serve on the game fish committees:

Dear Senators and Representatives,

I wanted to express my appreciation for the proposal to open fishing season one week earlier than originally proposed. According to the DNR statements I have read, opening season one week prior will have no impact on the fish population since the unseasonably warm spring and early ice out has led to early spawning.

It has been disappointing to read the articles from some of our more popular outdoor writers and self proclaimed outdoors spokesmen regarding the early opener. Ron Schara is upset that the early opener will interfere with his crappie tournament and Dennis Anderson has somehow become the spokesman for the resort industry and written about how this will cause issues with the resort industry. It is clear to me why Dennis is a writer and not a business owner. I cannot fathom how an early opener could possibly harm a resort - yes, it would be an inconvenience since last minute planning would be required but it does give those that are savvy business leaders an opportunity to capitalize on additional revenue. Personally, I don't understand why the resort industry seems to have a stronger voice in our resource management than the thousands of citizens.

My fishing, like most Minnesotans, is limited to the weekends when I'm not working so two additional days of walleye fishing during a somewhat limited season is a welcome change. Some have argued that many have already made plans for a May 12th opener and this should prevent changing the date. Why? Why would opener a week early be an issue to anyone that has made plans? I don't think the lakes are going to be fished out due to an opener a week early and this really sounds like some "me first" whining. All in all, based on the weather this year, an early opener would be good for the average fisherman like myself and any business that supports the industry -- regardless of what self proclaimed experts believe.

+1

[itchmesir]

just get over it.. there will still be plenty of fish to catch on the 12th.. "but i always fish the opener".. ya'll could've saved a good chunk of money if you just stayed at a Super8 along the mississippi and fished for your walleye.. no need for any opener south of pool 2

[cribbageboy]

PushBotton,

This is clearly a hypothetical question, but lets just say they moved Christmas to I dont know...July 25th. You would celebrate twice? "Putty in their hands" if you ask me.

Here's how I look at it. Unnamed resort is currently booked solid for the weekend of the 12th. If opener gets moved to the 5th, such resort is now book solid for the weekend of the 5th, but I'd be willing to bet they now have more than a little vacancy for the weekend of the 12th.

And lets say they decide to move the Bass opener as well. Better book a 4th cabin apparently.

Then they decide to move musky opener. I suppose you best be booking a 6th cabin.

Not sure about you guys, but I can't afford to take off the year of 2012 to play this kind of game with the POLITITIANS. Especially when it isn't any of their dang buisness in the first place.

[Comit 2]

So why not trout? Bass? Muskie?

I'm sure no one will remember this come election time.

Forth of July is almost here, do you have your Christmas shopping done!

If you want to impress me let me troll with 2 lines.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So there we'll be a weekend not booked at that resort you have been trying to get into for years. Good for those few. Most likely the ones who started this goofy bill.

Now, who is going to pay to print all the notices to make sure every fisherman in the state will know? It's taking what 4-6 year to get everyone informed of the invasive species bill.

[itchmesir]

PushBotton,

This is clearly a hypothetical question, but lets just say they moved Christmas to I dont know...July 25th. You would celebrate twice? "Putty in their hands" if you ask me.

Here's how I look at it. Unnamed resort is currently booked solid for the weekend of the 12th. If opener gets moved to the 5th, such resort is now book solid for the weekend of the 5th, but I'd be willing to bet they now have more than a little vacancy for the weekend of the 12th.

And lets say they decide to move the Bass opener as well. Better book a 4th cabin apparently.

Then they decide to move musky opener. I suppose you best be booking a 6th cabin.

Not sure about you guys, but I can't afford to take off the year of 2012 to play this kind of game with the POLITITIANS. Especially when it isn't any of their dang buisness in the first place.

it would be more of a theoretically correct date.. seeing as "baby jesus" was "born" in june

[itchmesir]

So why not trout? Bass? Muskie?

I'm sure no one will remember this come election time.

Forth of July is almost here, do you have your Christmas shopping done!

If you want to impress me let me troll with 2 lines.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So there we'll be a weekend not booked at that resort you have been trying to get into for years. Good for those few. Most likely the ones who started this goofy bill.

Now, who is going to pay to print all the notices to make sure every fisherman in the state will know? It's taking what 4-6 year to get everyone informed of the invasive species bill.

why? I'm sure their would be plenty of people out fishing for walleye a week(or more) before opener anyways.. there's a lot of them "i don't care" types out there.. see'em all the time

[LMITOUT]

It's pretty simple, actually. If you don't want to go on the 5th, then don't. If you're a resort owner that doesn't want to open on the 5th, then don't. Nobody is forcing anybody do anything. Those who want to make the effort and make a few extra bucks will be open.

An even simpler solution to all of this would be to eliminate the ridiculous "opener" altogether.

[itchmesir]

Why resorts wouldn't open early to cash in on all the gullible fishermen is beyond me.. cash money homie

[reinhard1]

i dont agree with the article at all. just a bunch of whining from Shara. fishing opener is not a holiday like Christmas is. resort owners are aware of this pending bill now. i would think they are getting ready for the comming year now just like any year. people dont have to change plans at all. opener would be a week earlier and doesn't stop anyone from going fishing on operner week and still go on the planned date. my plans wont change one way or another. probably still target panfish anyway if they bring it up early.

this will help the economy also. an extra shot in the arm for any buisness that caters to the fishermen. i cant see why resorts would complain, gas stations, liquor stores, grocery stores, bait shops and more. Shara says we need a year to get ready for a early opener? . on a one time deal? what i dont like about the possible change is that it is only a temporary one time deal. i told my rep to make the change permanent. we would be equal to Wisconsin as far as openers and cash would stay here for a change [at least some of it]. good luck.

[Comit 2]

So this is just about resort owners?

I would like to shoot a Timber Wolf! That would be a big boost to the economy. I know that would get me to think of driving north, because the lakes around here are full of fish and there are 50 lake within 30 miles. I don't use live bait 98% of the time and my tackle boxes are full.

So I say; All of this just for Resort owners..?

Let all the crazies have there day a week early this year and I'll go fishing later when they are sleeping it off!!!!

[gregg52]

just think memorial day this will alll be water far under the bridge

i just kinda go with the flow

if its open i'll fish..whereever

if not i wait 7 days OMG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...LOL

[reinhard1]

a agree!!!by Memorial Day that one week will be history. good luck.

[goose89]

Not sure about you guys, but I can't afford to take off the year of 2012 to play this kind of game with the POLITITIANS. Especially when it isn't any of their dang buisness in the first place.

+1. I don't care if they give me something extra, I don't like how / where it's coming from.

[LMITOUT]

Quote:

Mike Triska, owner of Voyageur Cove Resort on Lake Vermilion, said he supports the early opener.

"It most definitely would help business, even if it's only for one year,'' he said. But, he said, he'd like to see the DNR drop opening dates altogether and just leave the season open year-round, as South Dakota and some other states do.

"They shouldn't have the season closed at all,'' he said. "A lot of lakes, like Vermilion, have slot limits, which protects female walleyes.''

With no opening date, resorts could open whenever they wanted to, he said.

This sounds like a guy I can give my business to. He "get's it".

[CaptainMusky]

Move it up or leave it I could really care less but make it for 2013 and beyond not 2012. The precedence this sets if they change it this year is ridiculous. Are they going to push it back in years with late ice outs? No! Its talk and its time for supporters of this to realize it. If they can move up walleye opener why not bass and. Musky?

[goose89]

The precedence this sets if they change it this year is ridiculous.

+1. We may forget about it a week afterwards / Memorial Day, whenever... but the politician that need a feel good reason to gather some votes next time something like this (early / late spring) comes around won't. Get some DNR / Roundtable / Resort folks together and do away with Opener. If we're all so gung-ho about this being about helping the economy, then no closed seasons should make sense too.

[littlebear]

If it wasn't for the political aspects, or the short notice, this is not an issue. If passed, I'm glad businesses directly related to "opener" activities will have the opportunity to earn a few more. Several years ago, I'm sure many in the upper northern third were worried about having any customers at all due to the ice....

Either way, my plans won't change, hopefully yours won't as well. The fish will still bite

[Stick in Mud]

Schara's article is terribly reasoned, in my opinion. I just don't understand why he'd have to cancel his plans for May 12th if they open fishing on the 5th. Does it REALLY matter that his plans wouldn't be on "the opener"? Apparently it does to him, but it shouldn't for any reasonable person.

And I'm with pushbutton...this is NOT a zero-sum issue. Lots of people will be going BOTH weekends (I certainly will be if it passes). And this is exactly why the comparisons to Christmas and the Super Bowl are not relevant.

[LMITOUT]

[DTro]

The only real valid point he made was for the Governors opener. Sure it can still take place without a hitch, but just maybe not exactly the warm fuzzies of an actual opener.

All I know is I just got off the water after fishing for 11 hours. Opener means nothing to me anymore.

[pushbutton]

Yeah, I really do not care either. Really do not care what I catch either so will be fishing somewhere for something; but what absolutely baffles me, from being a small business owner, is that some elements within the resort/fishing industry are against it. If my business had lets say 5 months to make money and was given an extra week to do so .....would not hesitate in the least. Seriously folks, this is a made up "holiday" it is not sacred. It has more to do with trying to turn a buck than to protect the fish. Having said that, there are better options out there for turning more bucks and still protecting the fish. Isn't there some saying out there about a horse and water? Guess there is also that saying about my daddy's daddy's daddy.

[Stick in Mud]

Hmm, Dtro, you get warm fuzzies from the gov catching one dinky walleye or a pike on opener? Who knew you were so sensitive?!?

But I realize your larger point (and Schara's). I just don't weight it as heavily as does Schara. Furthermore, I'm not all that worried about the slippery slope argument being made about how, having changed one season opener in a freakishly strange year, the DNR/MN legislature will start moving them around every year.

I just think that, with the amazingly early spring and the extremely rough year that the businesses have had up north, it makes sense to bump it up a week. I'd be happy to spend some of my limited financial resources a week early, and I know lots of guys who would do the same. Seems reasonable (and not as dangerous as some say) to me. Just my .02.

And it's funny how "opener" means different things for different people. I live near St Cloud, and I very rarely get down to fish the border waters between MN and WI (or between MN and Canada, for what it's worth), so "opener" for me is usually the second weekend in May. I do fish for catfish this time of year, but it's just not the same.